The thing to remember about the Mallow 10 is that the registration, start and finish points are in 3 completely different parts of the town. If this is your first time doing it, take note of the instructions below. If you have done the Mallow 10 before then be warned that the course has changed somewhat and the start and finish lines have moved...so read on.
Getting registered...
As I mentioned in a previous post, if you are going then you should register online before midnight on Friday. Not only is the entry cheaper (€12 as opposed to €15 for non-registered), it also means that you don't have to join long queues on the day and it makes life a lot easier for the organisers.
Getting your number...
When you register online, you are indicating your intent to attend the race. You have to go to the Youth Hall to collect your number. If you do not pre-register, you can enter on the day for €15. Please note that the last entries are at 11:30am!!
Getting to the Youth Hall...
If this is your first time doing the Mallow 10, then check out the map above. If you are coming from Cork on the N20, take the exit into the town at the roundabout. Keep going straight up into the town and when you see some dudes head on a pedestal, turn left here up the hill and look for parking. The Youth Hall is just around the corner.
Getting to the Start.......
Note that the start line is about a mile from the Youth Hall and it's different from last year!! From the Youth Hall, head back into town, left at the 'dude on the pedestal' and downhill to the river. Cross over the Blackwater River, straight through the traffic lights and after a few hundred metres you come to a garage...see the black dot on the map. Last year, the start line was just up the road to the right. This year, you need to take a left and go to the start line which is up in a residential area. The race starts at 12:30pm sharp so give yourself plenty of time to get there.
Getting back from the finish.....
Last year the finish was outside the local Co-Op shop and the road was pretty busy....not a great spot for the finish of a race. This year, the finish is in a cordoned off lane of the main N20 road near the roundabout, about a mile from the Youth Hall. Considering that this is the main Cork/Limerick road, the Gardai and Mallow AC don't want several hundred finishers crossing the road in dribs and drabs causing traffic delays to say nothing about the safety aspect. They want everyone to follow the stewards instructions and to use the nearby footbridge which crosses safety over the main road. From there, head back into town...straight up the slight hill and then left at the pedestal. No doubt Mallow AC will have a fine spread ready for all the runners after the race.
The Course....
As a 10 mile course, it's pretty reasonable although there are a few small drags. Nothing major but perhaps enough to lose you those vital seconds if you were trying for a PB.
The race starts in a residential area and back towards the garage and then left. From here, the route is the same as last year until the 9.5 mile mark. After the 1 mile mark, you run underneath the N20 road and just before the 2 mile mark, there is a bit of a climb. After that, you come out onto the hard shoulder of the N20 and you run roughly 2 miles along this stretch until you reach the main roundabout where you take a left and on to the 4 mile mark.
From here, it's reasonably flat as you head out towards the Race Course. Soon the road narrows and hard shoulder disappears but hopefully there will be Gardai on hand like in previous years to direct the traffic.
Just after 6 miles, you turn off left and onto the nicest part of the course. The roads here are quiet and traffic is no longer a concern. Soon you cross a small bridge and you tackle a small climb on the other side. Nothing serious but coming at around 7 miles, it will test people to see if they can stay with the stronger runners in their group.
Out to Newberry Cross and left past a small industrial estate. The road is pretty straight here and reasonably flat. Just after 8 miles, there is a sharp downhill section and a slight detour from last year's route as you stay right and then left. Back on the road for the town and again, there is a short hill here which can be testing.
At about 9.4 miles just at the railway bridge and the N20 flyover, the route changes. Last year, you would have carried straight on......in past the church...left over the bridge...left onto Park Road and on to the finish. This year, you are going to take a right just after the railway bridge and you run up the slip road to join the N20. Then a sharp left and run in towards the finish which is on a cordoned off lane.
Instructions.......
Please see below some instructions from Mallow AC for the race...
Key Points for participants and spectators.
- As the numbers have grown by 300% over the past four years, the course has changed as we have been forced to avoid the town centre
- The start is to the left of the petrol station, just by Davis College. (a few hundred metres from the old start) in a mainly residential area.
- The finish is now by the roundabout bar on the main Cork/Limerick Road. While this is not ideal we have struggled to find a better option
- Runners will not be allowed run back out the course once finished
- Runners will not be allowed use headphones/music players
- Once leaving the finish area runners will be asked to use the footbridge to cross the road and return to hall
Registration
- Pre registered entries are €12, Registration via www.mallowac.ie will be available until mid-night Friday
- Pre registered runners must pick up their numbers in the hall.
- Entries on the day are €15 (Runners on the day will need to complete entry forms available in the hall)
- Last entries on the day will be 11:30am
- Registration will be at Mallow Youth Centre, this is a mile from the start and a mile from the finish
- Parking is not available at the Youth Centre, there are a number of car parks nearby, details on the website.
- All runners will receive a Beanie cap as per last year
- Tea/Coffee sandwiches will be available to all runners after the race
Prizes
- Usual prize categories, details on website
- €500 Euro bonus if either Male or Female records are broken
- Prizes for first 5 runners Male and Female will be presented on the day
- Other prizes will be mailed to recipients
On the Course
- Keep on the lefthand side of the road, except for one section (9 to 9.5 miles) where you will be directed to run on the right
- Obey stewards
- Beware of traffic as the roads are not closed
- While all possible precautions will be taken, you are responsible for your own safety
- Please respect the property of residents at the start .
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